The Ravings of an Insomniac

Pixi claims that this is a "neutral medium tone" but I'd describe it as more of a yellow toned medium. It matches my skin tone perfectly and cancels out redness to a pretty good degree. It offers light/medium buildable coverage. I'm not sure if this is the deal with everybody, but whenever I use a cream product with a brush (rather than a sponge) it just looks patchy and bad. Anyways, I'm sure that you can infer what I'm about to say: when applied with a damp sponge, this looks natural and skin-like, but when applied with a brush, it's visable on the skin. This product is a lot longer lasting than expected. I'd say it starts fading around the 8/9 hour mark on my normal/dry skin. I find that this does set down to a powder finish, but it's not particularly powdery, nor does it help with oiliness, so I'd recommend a setting powder.

Honestly? While this product isn't bad, it's not remarkable in the slightest. Pass.

I accidentally went an entire week without posting anything. I took all the pictures and everything but I guess forgot to upload them to the posts and didn't queue them. Ah, sorry about that. I don't even do much during the day - I go to work for the morning and then spend the rest of the die lying in bed with my computer resting on my boobs. I like to refer to it as "the Tumblr position."


What it is: a liquid lipstick that leaves a stain

Where: Sephora stores and online

Price: $13

Sephora is not a cruelty free brand. I am disappointed.

Sephora says that "this high-coverage lip product features avocado oil for a texture that transforms as you wear it: when applied, the initial cream texture becomes a silky, lightweight stain. Lips achieve stunning color and feel soft and comfortable." There are ten shades available, and about half of them have matte finishes. The one I'm reviewing is #3, Strawberry Kisses.

This liquid lipstick is packaged in a slim tube that contains .169 oz (about 4.7 grams) of product. It has a doe foot applicator, which is on the thinner side. I've noticed that lately brands have been opting for wider, paddle shaped doe feet. This doe foot applicator is great for precise application however, and I find it really easy to work with. It does tend to pick up a bit too much product and needs to be wiped off, but I'm okay with that.

Strawberry Kisses is a beautiful pinky-red. I'd call it an electric dark pink, if that makes sense. It's a really pretty color and flatters my skin, although I thought it might be too pink for it it looks great. This is available in a great variety of shades; there are classic reds and nudes, and also purpley mauves. The cream is very creamy and soft, and sets down to a matte finish almost immediately. It is suuuuuper pigmented. The swatch was one swipe with very little product on the doe-foot. Honestly, when I wear this I usually only use the tiny drop of product that I wipe off of the applicator.

I wanted to talk about how comfortable this is to wear. Obviously, as a long-wear matte color this isn't going to be hydrating, but it doesn't make your lips look flaky and dry like the NYX ones do. It won't emphasize any dryness on the lips, nor does it hydrate. I find that this is pretty comfortable to wear on the lips, although you can definitely feel that you have lipstick on. I actually noticed towards the end that my lips feel a little tacky, but nothing some blotting can't fix. As of the lip stain claim? That's bullshit. It's simply a super pigmented liquid lipstick.

Freshly applied.


Four hours and a nap later.

This is my 4 hour wear test. On a regular day I would've worn it for longer, but I was feeling grubby and wanted to wash my face. It doesn't even look like these pictures were taken at two different times. I did notice some bleeding on the bottom lip, but this could be stopped with the use of a lip liner. I didn't eat anything during this, but I was constantly drinking water. Although I didn't leave any lipstick prints on my water bottle, I did smooch the back of my hand and saw that it left a lipstick imprint. Interesting.

Would I recommend this? Well, yes - but to be honest these aren't that much better than the $6 (and with more product) NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. If you have a bit more cash to spend definitely consider getting these, but in all fairness they're quite similar to the drugstore brand's.

I write too many reviews on Sonia Kashuk products. What can I say? I just adore the line. I'm not sponsored by the brand in any way; the company probably isn't even aware of my existence. This product came out in the Spring 2014 line (which was launched fairly recently actually, in early May if my memory renders me correct).

What it is: pressed powder

Where: Target stores and the Target website

Price: $9.99

This brand is cruelty free!

I have dry skin that gets shiny. It's not oil, it's just shine. Sometimes I get confused and annoyed at this because without a powder there's no real way to get rid of this, as I can't blot it away because there's no oil. Because my skin is on the drier side, I'd never really felt the need to powder. But now that it's summer and I'm sweating all over the place the shine is more and more apparent, so I picked up this powder.

Sonia Kashuk says that "this weightless formula glides on effortlessly; delivering even coverage while a soft focus complex reflects light to minimize skin imperfections. This formula also contains a natural polymer that helps to regulate sebum production for a shine free, flawless complexion. Powder puff included for on the go application." This product contains .17 oz (5 g) of product and only comes in one translucent shade.

The packaging is nice and sleek. It comes in a matte black flip-top compact that has a magnetic closure and two levels, one for the product and one for the included brush. There is a decent sized mirror inside. The included brush? Thin. Flimsy. Weak. Very soft. Much like my biceps, or lack thereof. It's much too flimsy to be of much use. I don't think the mirror flips out far enough, but to be honest this is because the mirror I use for my makeup application used to be a powder compact and the mirror flips out to 180 degrees. This one flips out to maybe 150. Totally eyeballing it, but you can tell from the picture that it doesn't go out entirely.

In the pan, this powder appears a little peachy. This initial color sheers out to translucence when it is applied and blended out, so this powder would be suitable for all skintones. While it doesn't cover shininess entirely, it takes out enough to make your skin look semi-matte, and rather natural. I find that some powders are so mattifying that your skin doesn't look like skin. This matteness doesn't stay all day, but it lasts for a good three/four hours. I would recommend carrying it around to touch up with if you usually do something like that.

As you can see from my powder, it looks a little worse for the wear. I have like, a film over the product. Sometimes powder products (eyeshadows, face powders, etc) can tend to have some sort of film over the product, and that film prevents you from getting annnyyyyyy product. I scratched it off. As you can see, where the product isn't scratched there's no product on my finger but where it is there is. However, the film seems to refilm over the scratched off product after a few days and I have to scratch off another layer. I'm very annoyed by this. I might just crush it into a loose powder. When it works, this powder claims to be weightless and weightless it is. There's zero cakiness, no powdery face, nothing. It just seems like skin.

Overall, totally conflicted. I would be in love with this if there wasn't the issue of the film. That pisses me off to no end. This is the first SK product I've had any sort of beef with, and honestly I wasn't expecting to ever encounter this magic crappy SK product.

I realized that I haven't had a blog post up in a while. For some reason I thought I had queued a bunch of posts, but I was sorely mistaken. Anyways, look forward to a few posts coming your way soon. Today's is on the NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone.

What it is: an cream eyeshadow primer

Where: Ulta, Target, select CVS stores, and online

Price: $7

NYX is cruelty free! 

I was hoping this product would be similar to a MAC Paint Pot, something you apply either alone to cancel out redness or underneath product to make it stand out more. NYX says to "maximize the intensity, longevity and brilliance of your eye shadow statements with our eye shadow primer pots. Each of the three NYX Eye Shadow Bases—for vibrant, pearl or neutral tones—creates a smooth canvas for color, increases its durability and prevents fallout." There are three shades available, a white, a shimmery white, and this one, Skintone.

The packaging is typical for a cream eye product, albeit a little bland. The product comes in a plastic jar with a white twist off cap and contains .25 oz, or 7 grams of product. This is a unhygenic but totally normal for a cream product.

The color of this is definitely visible on the eye. It's a super warmtoned (almost orangy) medium skintone. Those with medium to medium-light complexions could definitely pull this off alone but if you have a very fair or dark skintone someone will be able to see the product.

This is so creamy it's ridiculous. It's easy to smooth and blend out over the eye and definitely makes colors pop, but the downside is that it tends to crease when you use even the smallest bit too much. There's a weird algorithm for applying this; I find going in two thin layers is best as it won't crease but is enough to make the colors pop. I think this base is great for holding shadow on the lids longer and I've heard good things about the other two colors making bright shades pop, but for those looking to prevent creasing this is definitely not it.

What it is: cream eyeliner/eyeshadow
Where: Wherever Pacifica is sold (Target, certain supermarkets and Whole Foods, online)
Price: $14
Pacifica is a cruelty free brand!

Pacifica is a brand that I've not tried very much from, but I absolutely adore their Sea Foam Complete Face Wash. I was really interested in these eyeliners when they first came out, as they had the most gorgeous shades, so I picked this one up. I did think it was black at first, but nonetheless the color is beautiful. Their makeup line launched around this time last year I believe, but they've added some lip and eye products.

Pacifica says "The Smolder Gel Eye Liner [ ] stands above the rest. It's not waxy or tacky but has a creamy finish that can be smudged or left sharp. The smooth application allows you to rock a natural to smoky dramatic look with long-lasting natural mineral color. Line the eyes effortlessly or use as an allover creaseless shadow. Can be worn sheer or layered for more intensity. Gently line both upper and/or lower eye lid with a lining brush for a dramatic effect, or simply use your finger to smudge the edges for your sexy smolder. A product that is a true multi-tasker. 100% vegan." There are three shades available, and I'm reviewing Tahitian Pearl.




The packaging is pretty basic, but functional and aesthetically pleasing. The product is housed in a simple white jar with a screw-off lid. There's a window that allows one to see the shade inside, which is convenient if you want to own more than one. Inside there is .07 oz of product.


Before we move onto the formulation I want to talk about the shade, which is simply amazing. Pacifica describes it as a "pearlized green/gray with gold dust" and while that's definitely true, I think the best way to describe it is a deep khaki with gold shimmers. It's a very beautiful and flattering shade on my medium complexion and dark brown eyes.

This product is super duper creamy. I was surprised by the soft, creamy texture - I was expecting a true gel texture, but this has more of the texture of a cream shadow. It's easily blendible, a bit too easy to smudge, but easy to build up. As the product claims, it can be used as both a cream shadow and a liner. Sounds great, right? But here lies the problem. This product never really sets, making it easy to fade drastically and quickly and prone to creasing. I suppose one could set it over with an eyeshadow, but isn't that kind of counterproductive?

All in all, this product falls in the "if only" category. Do not get unless you're okay with setting it and working really hard to get it to stay on your lids. 

One of my biggest beauty blunders is not wearing SPF. I know, I know. It's terrible. SPF keeps you from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can not only help prevent wrinkles but can also greatly lower your risk of skin damage, including skin cancer. The sun is not your friend. Keep away. A product that I'd been lusting over for almost a year is the Coola Face SPF 30 Cucumber Matte Finish Mineral Sunscreen (that's a mouthful) and I finally snagged it up recently. Read on to see my review!

What it is: a natural sunscreen

Where it is: Ulta and online

Price: $36

This product is cruelty free, vegan friendly, gluten free, and a whole bunch of other friendlys!

Coola says to "naturally shield and nourish skin everyday with this antioxidant-infused, mineral matte SPF 30 sunscreen. Offering broad-spectrum UVA/UVB plus environmental protection, this light, natural cucumber scented formula gives skin an immediate line-smoothing finish. Made with organic Rose Hip Oil, rich in free radical fighting Vitamin C; and organic calming Evening Primrose and Flax Seed Oils, delivering abundant Omega-3 and Gamma-Linolenic Acid to improve elasticity and help skin retain moisture. Organic Shea Butter smoothes and hydrates while the phyto-protector Plankton Extract rejuvenates skin." This sunscreen is ideal for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone types. It's preservative free and made with certified organic ingredients. It contains 1.7 fl oz, which is the same size as a regular moisturizer. Coola said something about this sunscreen being unable to develop bacteria because there's no water in it; I don't know the science because I'm the exact opposite of the scientific type but I think that's pretty cool! Or should I say it's pretty Coola... yeah I'm not the funny type either.

The packaging is pretty nice, nothing too flashy. It's packaged in a simple blue pump, although the tube itself is flexible and squishy. An entire pump is a pretty good amount for your entire face and décolletage. I use about half a pump and dot over the face. The only problem I have with it is that the packaging is opaque, which I suppose protects the product from getting altered by the sun, but it prevents you from seeing how much is left. This product was pretty pricey so I'm trying to preserve it, and this opaque tube is a huge nuisance in that process.

When first pumped out, the product is stark white and you think "oh my lord how is that going to blend into my face and not make me look like a ghost?" Not to fret, my friends. This product easily blends completely into the skin, leaving no trace that it was ever there. It claims to have a matte finish. Now, I have dry skin that doesn't produce a lot of oil, but my forehead is a little shiny and while this sunscreen doesn't mattify the shine, it doesn't make it worse or oily, like other sunscreens. It makes the skin feel so silky and soft, and how a pleasant, soft scent. I haven't had any sort of negative reaction to the product, and I can't really see it bothering many skintypes, as a lot of ingredients are antibacterial and gentle on the skin. The SPF 30 requires reapplication, but that's the case with any sunscreen for a prolonged period of time.

I really freaking love this product. The matte finish is so nice and lovely, not to mention the pleasant scent and gentleness of the product. If you can afford it, definitely go pick it up.

What it is: liquid concealer

Where: Target stores + Target website

Price: $8.99

Sonia Kashuk does not test on animals!

So since the spring SK line launched, I've had this product in the back of my mind. I stopped wearing concealer under my eyes for a little bit because I ran out of my usual under eye stuff and I can't bear to use cream around my eyes, so I just let the dark circles shine through. I don't really mind them, but when they are concealed my face looks ten times brighter so I figured I'd pick these up and give them a try. 

Sonia Kashuk says that "The moisture infused formula contains a hydrating complex with hyaluronic acid and black tea extract to enhance skins texture, radiance and color to impart a healthy glow. The perfecting fluid offers buildable coverage and seamlessly blends into a second-skin finish that softens the signs of fatigue and aging." This product contains 0.117 oz. There are only two shades available (09 Halo, and 10 Aura) and I have them both. 

 In my mind, SK is associated with great products in great packaging. While this packaging is a little unhygienic, it's pretty much the typical liquid concealer doe-foot packaging. I'm not sure what makes this look any different, but I keep thinking that the plastic with the concealer is glass. The handle is a matte black handle, which is nice and sleek. If you're grossed out by the doe-foot packaging, you can always apply the product to the back of your hand and then dab on with a brush or fingers. In the tubes, the two shades look pretty similar although they are rather different shades.

Like mentioned earlier, the two shades look quite similar in the packaing, but when applied you can see that they aren't close at all. Aura, the darker shade, is a pinkish toned medium tone. I think this shade would be really good for dark-medium to light-medium shades. Those of you with a darker medium skintone could use these under the eyes and those of you with a lighter medium skintone could use this on other spots of the face. The lighter shade, Halo, is a brightening shade that could suit a range of light medium to light skintones. I use Aura on my scars and around my nose and Halo under my eyes.

These have a really nice formulation. As the name implies, the formula is very light and creamy. They're so easy to blend and don't crease. This concealer doesn't have a lot of coverage, but both shades are brightening and reflect light away from problem areas. I like to set it, but that's unnecessary. Application is super easy; apply to problem areas and use pretty much anything to blend out. I love using a fluffy brush to blend it out as it looks so airbrushed and pretty.

What it is: a cream eyeshadow

Where it is: Target, Ulta, select Sears, and online

For how much: $5

NYX is cruelty free!

I've had this product in the back of my mind for quite some time now. I'm not sure why; to be truthful, it doesn't look exciting, and it seems like a pretty basic product. I suppose it could be the colors, they're quite beautiful. 

Anyways, NYX says that these shadows are "bursting with intense shimmering pigments in assorted hues. These exceptional shadows come in a variety of shades that have a velvety texture, dries promptly after application and lasts all day. Wearable for every season and occasion." There are twenty shades available, from a bright electric blue to pretty neutral shades.

The packaging is pretty basic and a little unhygenic. These come in round doe-foot applicator tubes. I don't really mind the applicator, but some people dislike them. The handle is a little too short for comfort, but that's not a big deal at all.

As you can see, this shadow has phenonomal color payoff - but a bit of an issue with blending. The top swatch is blended out immediately, and the bottom swatch is blended out after a few seconds, perhaps around 8 or 10. This shadow does not want to blend after it sets, it sort of pills up and just rubs away. Don't take the time to apply this to both eyes before blending, apply, blend as fast as you can, and then do the other eye. That being said, it does set while you blend and you can feel it too, but the product just doesn't want to blend with a brush. You gotta work fast. This might be an issue for some people. It bothers me, but I can make it work. The problem is that this creases so badly on me. I have fairly oily eyelids, but even applying this after a base doesn't do much. If you have dry eyelids and don't mind blending immediately after applying, this could be a great product for me, but I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

Thanks for reading! What are your favorite cream shadows?

What it is: an eyeshadow quad

Where: Target stores and online

Price: $7.99

BTW: This product was not tested on animals.

I love me some neutrals. Neutral colors are easier for me to work with on my flat eyes; they make application a lot easier, so I tend to gravitate towards neutrals over pops of colors. This little quad is always in stock at my Target, so even if you can't find it online there's a chance you can find it in-store.

Boots says that "this multi-shade eye color is smooth, long-lasting and crease resistant. With Chamomile, it helps soothe and care for the delicate skin around the eyes." There are four palettes available, and as you can tell from the intro, mine is in Golden Brown, one of the two more neutral palettes.

The packaging is very simple and compact; a snap shut palette holds four small pans of product. The packaging snaps shut soundly, so you have no worries about it popping open and making a mess everywhere. There's a pretty leaf pattern embedded into the shadows.

There are four shades in this palette, a shimmery warm brown, a sparkly gold, a shimmering peachy champagne color, and a dark matte brown. The only one of these that isn't well pigmented is shade 2, the gold - I think it's because there's too much shimmer in it. Otherwise, the shades are wonderful. They blend very well and are extremely versatile shades. Shade 1 and 3 are lovely one-step eyeshadow looks, just sweep them over the lid and you look amazing already. Shade 4, the matte, isn't the slightest bit chalky and blends well. These shadows last all day, but on their own they're not particularly crease resistant. I would definitely recommend a primer.

Thanks for reading! Do you have a favorite neutral eyeshadow quad? I'd love to know(:

What it is: liquid concealer

Where: Ulta stores and online

Price: $5

BTW: NYX is cruelty free!

Before I'd ordered this I was considering it for a while. I don't generally buy face makeup online; I find swatches and descriptions unreliable because I'm still quite unsure what my undertone is and pictures can appear different on screens. So honestly, I took a bit of a wild guess and just hoped it would match. I've heard whispers that this is a little bit like the NARS Radiant Concealer.

NYX says that "this lightweight cover-up obscures imperfections, discoloration and under eye circles, without ever looking cakey or obvious. Little wonder the Concealer Wand is one of our best-sellers. The concentrated, emollient-rich formula goes on like a dream, and creates medium to heavy coverage." There are eleven shades available, including three correcting shades. I have mine in Meduim.

Packaging is pretty standard and nothing special; it comes in a doe-foot applicator. I don't like to apply this directly on my face, but rather I scrape some off on the back of my hand. I find this not only warms the product up but lets me control exactly how much I want and need, not to mention that it's much more hygenic.

So! Medium is described on the website as "medium beige with olive undertones." So far, warm, neutral and cool tones haven't worked seamlessly on me so I figured I'd give olive a go. But this undertone isn't exactly olive, it has a light to medium shade that has a peachy pink undertone. Not particularly unflattering, and nothing that somebody else would notice, but regardless I can see it and it irks me. I mean, it works but it just bothers me, you know? But let's talk about the formula. Spoiler alert: it's great. This creamy, lightweight concealer blends like a dream, leaving full coverage where applied. It doesn't look like concealer, more like skin. When properly set with a powder this lasts all day, but you have to be careful to let it set on its own first before applying a powder. This is great for blemishes and scars, but I wouldn't recommend it around the eyes or nose because it tends to settle into fine lines. Not exactly crease, but sink into the skin where there's space to sink in, if I'm making sense. But other than that, this is a great concealer for the face. 

These photos are a little blurry and out of focus but you can clearly see that it makes my chin scars look nonexistent!

So what's the final verdict? This is a really good concealer, but be wary around the eyes and make sure the shade matches you.

Thanks for reading! Have you tried this concealer?

Hi, all! Today I've got a rewrite of an old review, specifically on my beloved SK Eye On Neutral Palette! The pictures are so crappy; lighting was super weird today. I tried to adjust it as best as I could but to no avail ): Read on to get a detailed, in-depth review with swatches!

What it is: a 12 color eyeshadow palette

Where: Target stores + online

Price: $20

BTW: SK does not test on animals!

Sonia Kashuk says that "the formulas have are extremely blendable with a velvety soft touch and superior color release." The shadows are paraben and fragrance free. This palette has three shades available; one is a 'limited edition' that I've seen around for at least seven months, one is this matte palette, and the other is the shimmery sister of this palette. 

Packaging is small, plain, and functional. It comes in a small snap shut palette with twelve smallish pans of totally matte shadow. The formulation of these shadows varies a lot from shadow to shadow. They swatch very pigmented but blend out sheerly, which I love (makes it hard for me to go overboard). Without a primer they last up fairly well, but do tend to crease a bit. Lasting power and crease resistance increases significantly with the use of one. This palette contains a wide variety of shades, from a peach to a black, making it perfect for travel. Read on for individual color and formula descriptions.

This picture is so damn blurry. I'm so sorry!

1: Nearly-white cream. Kicks up powder in the pan. Neither dry nor buttery.

2. Light beige. Perfect for a base color to even out eyelids. Dry formula.

3. Peachy light beige. Also good for base color for warmer tones. Dryish formula.

4. Yellow toned peach. Fantastic formulation; buttery and smooth.

5. Pink toned peach. Also very buttery and soft!

6. Light taupe. Great for a contour shade for warmer toned pale gales! Super smooth and buttery. 

7. Warmed toned medium brown; it's almost bricky. Dry formulation.

8. Neutral medium to dark brown. Really great brow color. Buttery and smooth formula!

9. Neutral dark brown. Also good for eyebrows. Buttery and soft.

10. Slightly warm toned taupe. Soft and buttery!

11. Appears gray on the pan and on the fingers, but when applied has a slight brown undertone. Hard and dry formula.

12. Black-ass black. Soft as a baby's butt!

Final verdict: really great budget palette. The formula differences and almost overblendibility might annoy some people, but I don't mind. This palette is a must have for matte lovers, and really great for traveling. I highly recommend!